Exchange of numbers

Major league teams exchanged salary figures today with their players who filed for arbitration. A’s right-hander Justin Duchscherer asked for $4.6 million, while the team offered $3 million. Duchscherer is the only arbitration-eligible Athletic unsigned for 2009. A’s assistant GM David Forst reiterated his belief the sides can reach an agreement without an arbitration hearing, which would take place sometime between Feb. 1-21. Either Duchscherer and the team will find common ground and work out a contract, or they will go to a hearing, stating their case to a three-person panel which will decide whether Duchscherer gets $4.6 million or $3 million.